Tight security keeps China8217;s Urumqi under control

More shops re-opened in China8217;s Urumqi city on Wednesday as security remained tight in its Muslim Uighur district,10 days after the worst ethnic violence the country has seen in decades. Many stores and restaurants that had remained shuttered in the Xinjiang regional capital since unrest broke out on July 5 opened their doors,although some were still closed.

Riot police continued to line the streets in the city8217;s Uighur district and kept control of the area8217;s main bazaar,which they have commandeered as a base. Steel fences that could be quickly wheeled to block the streets were also placed on the side of roads. One Han Chinese worker in a mobile phone shop in an area close to the Uighur district said today that owners had decided to open the store for the first time since the violence. 8220;The Uighurs and Han in Urumqi have always got along pretty well. I think we are going to be able to get back to that very soon,8221; said a 24-year-old woman called Liao,as she swept the floors in the store.

One Uighur noodle shop owner said the strong troop presence had provided some comfort to businesses. 8220;We are getting back to normal here,thanks to all the security around,8221; he said,declining to give his name.